What You'll Learn
- Maintain a neutral spine and pelvic alignment during relevé to prevent lower back strain
- Enhance leg rotation and turnout by focusing on heel and knee placement during barre work
- Refine port de bras and upper body carriage for a more professional and graceful line
- Improve balance and core stability in sous-sus through focused weight placement
- Master fluid transitions using enveloppé and rond de jambe to coordinate hip and foot work
About This Video
Elevate your classical technique with this targeted 26-minute ballet barre class from Broche Ballet. This session is meticulously designed to focus on the fundamental pillars of dance: the plié, tendu, and relevé. Whether you are looking to solidify your basics or refine advanced nuances, this class provides the technical depth needed to excel.
We start with a deep dive into pelvic alignment and core control. One of the most common challenges in ballet is maintaining a neutral spine while moving through various positions. Throughout the exercises, you will be encouraged to avoid arching the lower back, ensuring that your energy is directed toward stability and length.
Turnout is another primary focus. By consciously pressing the knees back and bringing the heels forward during every plié and tendu, you will learn to maximize your leg rotation from the hip. The class progresses through combinations in first, second, fourth, and fifth positions, offering a variety of tempos.
You will experience slow, controlled movements to build muscle memory, followed by faster sequences to sharpen coordination and speed. This variation is essential for developing the 'juicy' quality of a well-executed tendu while maintaining the crispness of a relevé. Beyond the lower body, we emphasize the grace of the upper body.
Your port de bras will be refined by focusing on the space between the ear and the elbow, preventing the shoulders from hiking up and maintaining a professional carriage. You will also practice fluid transitions using movements like the chassé, enveloppé, and rond de jambe. These transitions help you coordinate footwork with the weight of the hips, a skill that translates directly to center work and across-the-floor combinations.
The session concludes with challenging relevé balances and sous-sus work, helping you find your center without over-relying on the barre. You will also enjoy a specialized stretch for the big toe joint, promoting foot health and flexibility.
